What is Angels Fall First?The quickest way to sum it up is this: Battlefield 2142, crossed with Battlefront II, crossed with Unreal Tournament's Assault gamemode. In other words, it's a Sci-Fi FPS and Space Combat hybrid, with objective-based gameplay, class and vehicle customisation, and just all-around cool stuff.
GameplayAFF is split into four gamemodes - First, Ground and Space battles, which are each divided into "Territories" and "Incursion". Territories plays out much like Battlefield's Conquest mode, or the ubiquitous Domination gamemode. Incursion, on the other hand, typically has one side attacking and the other defending. In ground incursions, the attackers must take over sets of control points, much like BFBC onwards' Rush gamemode, but also includes objectives such as opening a fortress' gates and taking over LZs as forward spawn-points. On some maps, both teams may have access to vehicles; Each has their own FAV, APC, Tank, Walker and Gunship. These are deployed periodically, typically being awarded to high-performing players and dropped on the battlefield, rather than spawning at CPs available for anyone to use.
In space, things get a little more interesting. On some maps, the attackers' first objectives might be space-based, while the next set may include boarding the defenders' space station and fighting it out as infantry, taking over CPs in the same fashion as the ground battles. Both teams have access to a wide array of strike craft filling different roles; Interceptors, bombers, brawlers, dropships - wait, dropships?
In much the same fashion as vehicles in ground battles, in space battles players may be awarded sub-capital ships; Corvettes, Frigates and Destroyers. Beyond that, certain stages of a given space incursion, or at predetermined times in Territories, one or both teams will deploy capital ships (Typically the attackers in Incursions). These capitals pack a serious array of weapons, and can be used to deny large areas of space. Not only that, but they serve as a forward spawn for its team, able to deploy strike craft. The best part? They're fully crewable by players, down to point-defence turrets.
But wait, it gets better - the enemy team can board them, if they can get a dropship through its fields of fire.
From there, boarders can spawn on the dropship if they weren't already onboard, until it's destroyed by enemy fighters. This allows them to wreak all kinds of havoc - disabling individual weapons systems, going for the shield generators, or straight for its reactor core, forcing its owners to fight in close-quarters if they want to hold on to their capital ship.
AFF has full bot support, being an Unreal Engine game. They can be a little dumb at times, but they're nice to shore up playercount.
All your individual weapons, vehicles and strike craft are fully customisable, with ammo types, attachments, different weapons and countermeasure loadouts, and in the latest updates, camouflage schemes and colours (There is also the option to disable this entirely client-side, if hot pink & yellow tanks aren't your thing).
I think that about covers it. A word of warning though, it is in Early Access. It's a little light on content and players, and is also somewhat unoptimised (Though I wouldn't know with my hardware, I get 20fps max in anything released post-2010). The playercount is down to the devs' decision not to advertise it until it's complete, or at least has had all its kinks worked out. That said, the bots provide plenty of meat for the grinder, you can even play offline if you choose to.
Steam page here:
http://steamcommunity.com/app/367270Currently on sale for £13.37.
Edit: Sorry about the page-stretch. Also note, the screenshots in here are from an older version, using the old UI. The latest update released the other day contained a completely overhauled HUD, it's now a lot cleaner and more legible.